✅ How to change gears on an alpha moped

Preparation

An important parameter for success in shifting gears is the speed and accuracy with which you shift, so you need to carefully consider the issue of convenient location of the clutch lever and the height of the gearbox foot. Both parameters depend entirely on your riding position and may change as you gain experience riding the motorcycle. The fingers of your left hand should not rest on the clutch lever, you should touch the lever only when changing gear, the rest of the time your hand should clasp the steering wheel clip. You must choose the angle of the clutch lever and its lift in such a way that you can reach the lever at any time and nothing will interfere with you. You need to pull the clutch lever with four fingers. Pay attention to this. It is not recommended to install shortened bicycle-type handles under two fingers.

the lift of the lever is too large, there are times when you need to grab the steering wheel to reach the lever and this can only be done with your fingertips;
The angle of the lever is such that it is not possible to reach the lever in all situations.

Engine Features

The engine of the Chinese Alpha moped has characteristic features, thanks to which fans of motorcycle technology prefer this particular model.

Engine for Alpha moped

Engine capacity - 72 cc. With the right approach, it can be upgraded to 110 cc. Also, if desired, you can increase the speed by 10 kilometers.

The weak point of the engine is the gearbox, which requires close attention and a delicate approach . When repairing the “heart” of a moped, you need to know how to correctly disassemble and reassemble this part of the motorcycle “organism”.

Alpha is equipped with a powerful engine, the circuit of which is complex. If you can’t figure it out on your own, it is recommended to contact an experienced specialist. The price of repairs is quite affordable.

Start

The most difficult element for a beginner motorcyclist. Shift the gearbox to neutral. Make sure your elbows are bent and your center of gravity is forward. Depress the clutch. Engage first gear. From idle speed, smoothly release the clutch handle while raising the speed. If your motorcycle is equipped with a clutch lever position sensor (for example, Suzuki fuel-injected motorcycles), then you may notice how when starting from neutral the motorcycle itself adds speed - making it easier to start. Do not drop the clutch lever. Once you have mastered the soft start, you can learn to start faster. The principle of a fast start is the same as for a slow one - you load the front, your arms are bent, but the start does not start from idle speed, but from rpm from 4000 to 8000. The optimal start for a beginner in the city is to start from 3000 rpm. When starting, we recommend keeping your right foot on the rear brake - if you miscalculated the speed and the motorcycle begins to climb onto the rear wheel, use the rear brake. Often, we start where we end. Traction control when starting a motorcycle, using the rear brake, is widely used by riders when starting a motorcycle in world championships.

What is the benchmark - what is the fastest start. The fastest start is when you lie on the tank and throughout the entire acceleration line your wheel is torn off by 0.5 - 1 cm from the ground level. Taking into account bumps, this element is quite complex and, often, for its practical implementation, electronics are installed in motorcycles that control the unloading of the front wheel. On motorcycles equipped with a quick start, you can start with the throttle fully open; the electronics analyze the load on the front fork and automatically turn off the ignition as the fork becomes too unloaded. From the pilot's point of view, it looks like this: you load the front, lie down on the tank, fully unscrew the throttle and practically drop the clutch - the electronics do the rest. 99% of motorcycles are not equipped with a quick start and the pilot has to do the electronic work.

The main criterion for a successful start in the city is constant engine speed as the clutch releases. As you release the clutch, the revs begin to drop and you should try to keep the engine revs constant by opening the throttle at the same time as releasing the clutch. If you managed to do this, you can move on to the next step - reducing the clutch release time. After this exercise has begun to work out, try starting at high speeds, loading the front.

Shifting up gears with clutch

To understand the upshift technique, perform the following experiment. Drive in second gear with the throttle slightly turned off. Now, without closing the gas handle - squeeze the clutch - you will see how the revolutions instantly rise. Close the throttle. When the load in the form of the rear wheel disappears, nothing prevents the engine from spinning up and the speed increases rapidly. That is why speed in gear shifting plays an important role. If you shift quickly, then you may not close the throttle; at the moment when the clutch is depressed, the speed rises and immediately the gear shifts up and the clutch returns. If you do this quickly, then the revolutions rise by only 1000-1500 to provide optimal conditions for upshifting with the clutch.

To change gears up with the clutch, you need to quickly squeeze the clutch, shift up and release the clutch so that the revolutions at which the next gear is engaged do not exceed the revolutions of the gear from which you are shifting by more than 1500. If you do this slowly, you need to close the throttle at the moment when the clutch is depressed, if quickly, you can hold the handle in the same position or barely close the handle. An important criterion is the speed at which you started shifting up and the difference between the speed at which you depressed the clutch and at which you released the clutch - the difference should not exceed 1000 - 1500 revolutions. With practice, gear shifting will become automatic and will not require attention.

Do-it-yourself Delta moped repair

The Delta moped is widely used in many countries around the world. Its popularity among different segments of the population is associated with the low cost of the moped itself, high performance characteristics, and ease of maintenance. Most owners carry out repairs on the Delta moped with their own hands, without the help of qualified specialists. The simplicity of the design does not require a large amount of knowledge in this area.

RPM at which you shift

You should shift up in the high rpm zone (cut-off rpm minus 4000). If you shift at low speeds, then you may need a larger throttle shift - 2000/3000. The technique for shifting at high speeds is the same for all motorcycles and displacements. The technique of switching at low speeds varies depending on the engine size by throttling. At low volumes, when switching at low speeds, more throttle is required than at large volumes. Shifting at low speeds is not correct.

Engine disassembly

It is very easy to disassemble the Alpha engine. To do this you need:

"Hand" with a key;
Unscrew the bolts on the intake manifold (10);
unscrew the cylinder covers and bolts (4 pcs.);
remove the cylinder head.

After completing the necessary manipulations, it is necessary to correctly assemble the engine and install all the parts in place.

It may help to figure out the nuances of the scheme. The training video also contains many useful tips for repairing the most important “body” of the Alpha moped.

Shifting without clutch

The motorcycle gearbox is designed in such a way that it allows you to shift up without a clutch at any speed. One way to shift up gears without a clutch is to briefly reduce traction using the throttle. You need to quickly close and open the throttle and at the same time push the gear shifter up. If you do this at the same time and quickly, the box will shift up without using the clutch. Another way is to use a quick switching device; a sensor connected to the ignition control unit is installed in the break of the switching foot rod. During an upshift, the rod presses on the sensor, the sensor transmits a command to the ignition control unit, and the unit turns off the ignition for a pre-programmed time depending on the engine speed (usually no more than 50 milliseconds), the motorcycle’s thrust drops and the box clicks up.

Switch down

In order to understand what you should be wary of when shifting down, do a simple exercise: accelerate in second gear and completely close the throttle, while braking the engine, depress the clutch and roll with the clutch depressed, you will see that the engine speed will drop to idle, now, if you release the clutch there will be a sharp push, up to the temporary blocking of the rear wheel - the motorcycle will try to spin the engine from idle speed to the speed at which the motorcycle is currently moving. If you raise the speed when you release the clutch, the push will be less noticeable, and if the engine speed matches the speed at which the motorcycle is moving in second gear, there will be no jerk at all.

When you shift down, you must either do it quickly with the throttle closed in order to prevent the engine speed from dropping, or use over-throttle - i.e. add gas when shifting down.

So - quickly depress the clutch, quickly click the gear down - quickly release the clutch. If you do it slowly, we recommend using over-throttle - i.e. at the moment when the clutch is depressed and the speed begins to drop to idle speed - briefly, sharply raise the speed and, shifting down, release the clutch. The goal is that the rpm at which the lower gear is engaged should be either the same or 1500 higher than the rpm at which you shift.

Engine Features

The engine of the Chinese Alpha moped has characteristic features that make motorcycle lovers prefer this model.

Engine on Alpha moped

Engine power 72 cc. See: With the right approach, it can be upgraded to 110 cP. Additionally, if you want, you can increase your speed by 10 kilometers.

The weak point of the engine is the gearbox, which requires close attention and a gentle approach . When repairing the “heart” of a moped, you need to know how to properly disassemble and reassemble this part of the motorcycle “body”.

Alpha is equipped with a powerful engine, the circuit of which is complex. If you cannot figure it out on your own, it is recommended that you consult an experienced professional. The price of repairs is quite affordable.

Torque limiter

For beginners, switching down is quite difficult and not entirely clear. The likelihood that the rear wheel will suddenly lock is high. Therefore, motorcycle manufacturers have been installing a so-called torque limiter in the clutches of most motorcycles for about 10 years. The torque limiter should not be confused with the slipper clutch used on racing motorcycles. The main difference is that the limiter is activated when the clutch is not fully depressed, namely at the moment when you release the clutch. So if you accelerate in second gear, squeeze the clutch, lower the engine speed and now release the clutch, then the torque limiter will work a fraction of a second before the lever drops. The limiter is designed to combat the “jumping” of the rear wheel if you make a mistake with the speed at which you shift down or up. Remember - the limiter does not work with the clutch fully released and is not a panacea against locking the rear wheel.

Causes of malfunction

Chinese moped Alpha

, the price of which is affordable, does not give the owners many problems. Interruptions in a moped engine have several causes; once you understand why, you can quickly eliminate the breakdown.

Removing the moped motor

So, if the engine starts with great difficulty, the muffler “shoots” and smoke comes from the pipe, which means that the moped is “capricious” due to problems with the carburetor. To solve this problem with the Alpha moped, you need to:

clean the carburetor;
thoroughly clean the moped's air filter;
tighten the screws;
adjust the moped carburetor.

If the Alpha is slow to pick up speed and its engine is unable to produce the stated power, the reason is that the moped valves are not working properly. In addition, he can get sick due to gaps and poor timing. For proper operation of the Alfa moped, it is necessary to replace the exhaust valves with new ones.

Downloads

When braking and changing gears, you should ALWAYS try to sit as far away from the tank as possible, resting your knees on the tank. The landing helps load the rear wheel, which is unloaded by braking at the front, and helps the torque limiter work. If you are sitting in the back, the likelihood that the rear wheel will start jumping when shifting down is significantly reduced.

There are a lot of myths regarding gear shifting. Simple rules:

the faster you shift, the less you wear out the clutch;
the higher the rpm, the faster you shift;
you can and should slow down with gears;
you can move from 5th to first gear (understanding why this is necessary and what will follow);
you can and should shift at high speeds;
Shifting gears without a clutch causes minor wear to the fork and camshaft.

How to change gears on a motorcycle correctly

All movements you make with the pedals must be smooth so as not to damage the transmission.

When changing gears, change one speed at a time. It is not advisable to jump.

To understand how to change gears on a motorcycle, you need to carefully study the controls. There are motorcycles with manual transmission and semi-automatic.

Gear shifting methods

Method one

Motorcycles with manual transmission. All actions in this case occur in the following sequence. Pick up speed. Take off the gas. Engage the clutch. Press the gear shift pedal. Release the clutch, then the shift pedal and add gas.

To start the motorcycle, place it in neutral. After this, remove the gas and squeeze the clutch, at the same time turning on first gear. Taking your foot off the gear pedal, apply gas and release the clutch. Now add gas.

To upshift, you need to lift the gas, engage the clutch and press the gearshift pedal. After this, release the clutch, release the shift pedal and add gas.

To downshift, you need to remove the gas and engage the clutch. After this, sharply add gas, and when the speed begins to drop, press the gearshift pedal. Release the clutch and shift pedal and add gas. Once the motorcycle has stopped, be sure to put it in neutral.

Method two

Motorcycles with semi-automatic transmission. On these motorcycles, gear shifting is easier. Take off the gas and change gears. The clutch and gearbox are connected here.

Before starting the engine, place your bike in neutral. In order to engage first gear, you need to remove the gas and press the gear lever down. To increase the gear, you need to remove the gas and lift the gear lever up. To downshift, on the contrary, you need to apply gas and immediately remove your hand from the gas. When the speed starts to drop, change the speed and add gas. Now you know how to change gears on a motorcycle.

Causes of malfunction

The Chinese Alpha moped, whose price is affordable, does not cause owners many problems. Interruptions in a moped engine have several causes, and once you understand them, you can quickly fix the breakdown.

Disassembling the moped engine

So, if the engine starts with great difficulty, the muffler “shoots”, and smoke comes out of the chimney, it means that the moped is “capricious” due to problems with the carburetor. In order to solve this problem with the Alpha moped, you need to:

clean the carburetor;
thoroughly clean the moped's air filter;
tighten the screws;
adjust the moped carburetor.

If the Alpha slowly picks up speed, and its engine is not able to develop the declared power, then the reason is the incorrect operation of the moped valves. It can also “get sick” due to gaps and incorrect timing. In order to make the Alpha moped function normally, it is necessary to replace the used valves with new ones.

If the Alpha moped is not able to reach the required speed, despite the roar of the engine and solid revolutions, it is impossible to stop the spinning wheel, and gear shifting occurs intermittently, then the cause of the malfunction is clutch wear.

Moped clutch parts

To eliminate the breakdown, you must perform the following manipulations:

remove the engine;
remove the plastic cover;
unscrew the tightening screw;
Unscrew the adjustment mechanism and tighten the screw tightly;
start a moped;
turn on first gear and drive a few meters.

Another cause of moped engine malfunction may be wear on the drive sprockets. If they are very worn, they must be replaced with new ones.

You may encounter the problem of engine overheating. The situation can be corrected after adding oil. If oil leaks, you must urgently contact a professional service .

Alpha moped engine overheating

Engine disassembly

Disassembling the Alpha engine is quite simple. To do this you need:

“arm yourself” with a key;
Unscrew the bolts on the intake manifold (by 10);
unscrew the cylinder covers and the bolts located there (4 pieces);
remove the cylinder head.

All motorcycle speeds and its maximum speed

The maximum speed of a motorcycle depends on the power of the bike and the drive gear ratios.
Motorcycles of different sizes can reach speeds from one hundred and forty kilometers to three hundred and forty kilometers per hour. You don't need to make your bike's top speed an end in itself. Much more important is how dynamic your motorcycle is at all possible speeds. Gear ratios can be increased or decreased to improve the motorcycle's performance. For example, for city streets the maximum speed is not higher than 220 km/h. In this case, the gear ratios are selected so that at this speed the sixth gear is turned into the cutoff. The motorcycle will gain such important dynamics for it.

For track racing, the gear ratios are chosen slightly differently so that all six gears are used until a top speed of 280 kilometers per hour is achieved.

Replacing gear ratios is considered the cheapest tuning and does not affect the wear of the motorcycle.

How to change gears on an alpha moped

mechanical, four-speed and made in a single block with the engine. Gear shift mechanism

consists of a lever, shaft, ratchet and shift drum.
In the neutral position, the clutch cams for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears are located with a gap relative to the gear cams. This neutral position in the shift mechanism is ensured by a detent lever. When you turn the gear shift lever, its shaft rotates, which through the ratchet mechanism transmits rotational movement to the shift drum disk, rigidly mounted on the drum. Rotating in the crankcase, the shift drum acts through curved grooves on the shift forks, which, moving along the axis, displace the couplings along the splines of the secondary shaft until they engage with the gear cams. When the force is removed from the lever, the gear shift shaft returns to its original position under the action of a spring, while the ratchet mechanism of the shaft, after interacting with the shift drum disk, remains in the same position. The gearbox is lubricated from a common oil bath. Oil is poured into the crankcase in an amount of 0.8 liters through the filler hole (the oil change procedure is described in the “Moped Maintenance” section). Oil leakage from the crankcase is prevented by oil seals (on the secondary shaft and kick starter shaft), rubber rings on control shafts and gaskets between parts of the boat. The oil level in the crankcase may drop due to its leakage through the seals, loose connections between the crankcase parts and the crankcase cover. Operating a moped with a low oil level can cause failure of engine and gearbox parts. Operating a moped with a low oil level is not allowed!
What is the gear ratio of the gearbox and final drive?

The gear ratio is nothing more than the ratio of the number of teeth on the driven gear to the number of teeth on the drive gear. In practice it looks like this. If one (driven) gear has 60 teeth, and the other (drive) has 30, then the gear ratio of this pair is 2 (60:30). Gear ratio is one of the main characteristics of gears, which ensure the transmission of torque from the engine to the drive of some other device (unit). At the same time, this mechanism allows you to increase or decrease the amount of transmitted torque. For example, by changing the number of teeth on both gears, you can increase or decrease the torque transmitted from the engine to the “consumer”. The gear ratio in the gearbox affects such characteristics as acceleration dynamics and maximum speed of the moped. In relation to gearbox stages with different gear ratios, it looks like this: the larger this number, the “shorter” and “more powerful” the gear, that is, when accelerating, the engine spins up faster to maximum speed, and the motorcycle accelerates more intensely. True, this reduces the maximum speed in this gear. Consequently, there is a need for more frequent switching. The acceleration dynamics are also influenced to the same extent by the gear ratio of the main pair. The higher it is, the more dynamic the motorcycle is, the better it pulls in all gears, but the maximum speed is lower. By reducing the gear ratio, they increase the maximum speed (if the engine has a so-called power reserve), but lose in the acceleration dynamics of the motorcycle. For example, installing a main pair of 4.1 or 4.3 instead of 3.72 makes the moped more dynamic, but less fast. Transmission gear ratios are selected depending on the power and torque characteristics of the engine, wheel size, braking system capabilities, and if the moped is tuned, the owner’s wishes are also taken into account.

To watch online, click on the video ⤵

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